Tape reader

ABSTRACT

A tape reader is provided that reads data from a tape without requiring specific alignment. The tape reader may include a reader head comprising a sensor array with a plurality of sensors that detect the data independent of the track within which the data is stored. Multiple sensors may detect data in each track instead of a single, dedicated sensor for each track. The sensor array may comprise multiple sensors in multiple dimensions, such as perpendicular to the movement of the tape or in parallel to the movement of the tape, including serpentine linear recording formats where the sensors may be in a matrix positioned at various angles from horizontal to vertical.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S.provisional patent application No. 63/215,801 filed Jun. 28, 2021, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a magnetic tape reader forreading a variety of different magnetic tape formats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Since the 1950's, tapes have provided the most common medium upon whichdata is digitally stored and saved for both re-use as well as long termpreservation/archives. Commonly, the tape is in the form of a magnetictape comprising a plastic film with a ferrous-oxide coating. The side ofthe tape bearing the coating stores the data, while the other side isconfigured to provide strength to the tape.

In order to write to or read from a tape, the tape passes through a tapedrive path. The tape drive has motors to cause the tape to pass over atape head or heads between two reels. Dedicated tape heads may read,write, or delete data from the tape.

Data may be stored on a tape in a number of data tracks. The tapetypically also includes one or more ‘non-data’ tracks which provideinformation that assists with read quality off the tape.

A reader head of the tape drive has a number of sensors for reading thetape. Each track has a dedicated sensor, which is independent of thesensors for the other tracks. These sensors are provided on the readhead, which engages the side of the tape upon which the data is stored.The sensors capture the data before the data is processed into therequired format.

One or more additional tracks may be included on the tape to assist withread quality and can include information such as parity tracking, dockinformation, or timing related data to provide a form of error detectionand correction. Other tracks called service tracks, usually written tothe non-data side of the tape, also provide a track alignmentinformation and correction. Tape tracking is essential to ensure thetape and the read head remain in alignment, and therefore individualtracks remain aligned with its dedicated track sensor.

Since its first inception, magnetic tape has undergone continuousdevelopment with the view of increasing the storage capacity of thetape. This has resulted in different tape formats and configurations,each of which typically require different tape readers in order toretrieve the data. Many and varied types of tape drives have beenreleased by different manufacturers, and subsequently, old tape deviceswere superseded with newer technology.

The archives of numerous companies include tapes in offsite storage,which have been stored for many years. Many of these tapes—a largeportion of which were created over 30 years ago—have become fragile,suffered from deterioration, or from a fragile condition calledstiction. Extreme care must be taken when retrieving data from thesetapes.

Further difficulties arise in relation to retrieving data due to thelack of availability of the correct type of tape reader, and where theoriginal tape reader is available, its ability to retrieve the datawithout damaging the tape.

Typically, the old equipment used to read the tape has not beenmaintained and therefore prone to malfunction, or its importance hasbeen overlooked and the equipment discarded. As tape readers for oldtapes are no longer manufactured, anyone with an old tape needs to relyon a legacy device (e.g., original equipment that created the tape),which can be difficult to locate and obtain. Reading these tapes onlegacy devices greatly increases the possibility of severe tape damageand data loss due both to the delicate nature of the tape media, butalso the crude reading methods of the original equipment, which were notdesigned to take into account the now fragile condition of tape media.

There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved systems and methodsfor reading a variety of different magnetic tape formats.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a tape reader thatameliorates, mitigates, or overcomes one or more disadvantage of theprior art and provide improved magnetic tape reading. As used herein,the term “tape” may be used to describe any media in the form of a long,narrow, and/or flexible material capable of having data read therefrom.The tape may be stored on one or more reels, which may be exposed orcontained within a cartridge. Tape may be used to store analog ordigital data. Digital data is typically stored in a plurality ofparallel tracks, but may also be recorded in a helical scan format or aserpentine linear format. The tapes may have tracks that range from asfew as one track, and as many as several thousand tracks. The width ofthe tape may also range from 4 mm to 1 inch in width.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a tape reader forreading data from a tape. The tape reader may include a reader headcomprising a sensor array with a plurality of sensors that detect thedata independent of the track within which the data is stored. Multiplesensors may detect data in each track instead of a single, dedicatedsensor for each track. The sensor array may comprise multiple sensors inmultiple dimensions, such as perpendicular to the movement of the tapeor in parallel to the movement of the tape, including serpentine linearrecording formats where the sensors may be in a matrix positioned atvarious angles from horizontal to vertical.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a tape reader forreading data from a magnetic tape. The tape reader may provide a readerhead comprising a sensor array that has a plurality of sensors. Thesensors may detect the data independent of the track within which thedata is stored. In an embodiment, the data on the tape is read by thesensor array without requiring the tape to physically contact the readerhead. The sensor array may comprise magnetic read sensors oralternatively optical sensors that may be paired with a light source toincrease the contrast of the data stored on the magnetic tape. The typesof sensors may include, but are not limited to, magnetic, optical, andmagneto-optical sensors.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a tape reader forreading data from a tape. The tape reader may provide a reader headcomprising a sensor array that provides a continuous sensor region fordetecting the data on the tape as the tape passes across the reader headindependent of tape alignment. Traditional tape drives have a dedicatedsensor to read each track, such that a misalignment would prevent thetape drive from reading the data stored on the tape. With a sensor arraywith multiple sensors capable of reading the data stored on each track,however, the data may still be read with a much greater alignmenttolerance that allows for reading when the data stored on the tape isaligned with the sensor array as opposed to requiring each track to bealigned with each dedicated read sensor.

In contrast to the prior art, the tape reader described herein does notrequire a dedicated sensor for each track of data, thus eliminating theneed to ensure the tape is and remains properly aligned with the readerhead. As a result, the tape reader is capable of reading data from tapesof different formats, including tapes that have differing numbers oftracks. Common legacy tapes used 7, 9, 14, or 21 tracks. Modern tapescan have 32 or a significantly greater number of tracks measuring in thethousands. The tape reader described herein is capable of reading a tapewith any number of tracks that is equal to or less than the number ofsensors in the sensor array, where the physical dimensions of the tapeare not greater than the sensor array. Compatibility may further bedependent on the spacing of the tracks and the sensors in the sensorarray when reading large numbers of tracks, such as when the ratio ofsensors in the sensor array to the number of tracks is less than 2 to 1.

A further advantage of having a track independent sensor array is thatthe tape reader is able to read the entire tape in one pass and is notrequired to stop the tape when the sensor no longer senses a track, asis the case with prior art tape readers. If a damaged tape passesthrough such a legacy tape reader, the legacy tape reader may stopreading the tape, and the travel of tape through the legacy tape readershuts down. This is not the case with the improved tape reader describedherein. As the sensor array is not dependent on any particular track,the tape may continue to pass over the reader head from start to finish,regardless of the state of the tape. Furthermore, the sensor array maysense any residual magnetic field around the damaged section and enablesdata collection all the way up to the where the tape is damaged. Thesensor array may also gather data from the damaged area where residualmagnetic fields are detected, despite the absence of the full complementof the oxide usually present on the tape. The data may be reconstructedby mapping the magnetic fields of each of the surrounding bits of dataincluding the residual magnetic fields and using machine learningalgorithms to predict the value of the damaged or missing data. In someembodiments, one or more bits of data may be completely missing andpredicted based upon the surrounding bits of data that make up thecorresponding byte.

More than one sensor may detect the data from the same track. The sensorarray may comprise a plurality of sensors in the same width of eachtrack such that a plurality of sensors may read the data on a track ofdata simultaneously. In an embodiment, a track is 2 mm wide, but eachsensor in a sensor array is 0.1 mm wide, therefore the track may be readby as many as 20 sensors in the sensor array. In further embodiments,the sensor array may comprise multiple dimensions, increasing the numberof sensors capable of reading a single track by multiples of the depthof the sensor. In the previous example, 20 sensors could read a singletrack if positioned in a line perpendicular to the width of the track orthe movement of the tape, therefore if the depth of the sensor array was10 sensors, up to 200 sensors could read a single track.

Preferably the reader head is adapted to read the data from the tapewithout the reader head contacting the tape as the tape passes acrossthe reader head. In an ideal embodiment, the reader head is maintainedat a distance of less than 100 Microns from the reader head though thedistance may vary from directly contacting the reader head to a distanceup to 5 mm from the reader head. In prior art tape readers, the dataside of the tape is required to contact the reader. This can damage thedata on the tape but can also cause physical damage to the tape and taperead head itself.

Due to their age, or the manner in which the tapes have required to betreated, the tapes may be non-planar as it passes over the reader head.In embodiments of the present invention, as the reader head is notrequired to contact the tape, the sensor array is still able to detectand read the data from the tape.

Preferably the plurality of sensors are linearly arranged on the readerhead. Preferably the plurality of sensors are linearly arranged on thereader head such that the line of sensors are substantiallyperpendicular to the travel of the tape when the tape passes the readerhead. In some embodiments, multiple lines of sensors may be positionedparallel to one another, each perpendicular to the travel of the tape.The multiple lines of sensors may be arranged into a continuous array ofsensors to form a rectangular sensor array, including an optical imagesensor. Further embodiments may include sensors forming a checkerboardpattern, lines of sensors arranged at an angle, instead of perpendicularto the travel of the tape, in diamond patterns, etc.

The sensor array may comprise multiple lines of sensors. This providesthe sensor array with redundancies should one or more sensors fail. Italso provides a means of validating the data by comparing the datadetected by different lines of sensors. In traditional tape drives, if asensor fails to read data, it results in any of a read error, corrupteddata, and even a read interrupt. With parallel sensors, if the firstline of sensors fails to accurately read one or more bits of data, thesecond, third, etc. sensors may be able to read the correct value. Eachof the read values may be compared and the correct value determined bysimple methods such as averaging or using a simple majority of valuesread by the parallel sensors, or algorithms including machine learningto predict the correct value. Even in cases of missing oxide, thesensors may be capable of collecting information from the print-throughand residual magnetic field that may be resident in the mylar of thetape rather than the magnetic recording material.

The tape reader may be made from a low heat inducing, smooth material.In various embodiments the reader head may be coated with a low frictionmaterial, and/or may be cooled. The reader head may be ceramic or may beceramic coated. While the reader head is not required to contact thetape to read the tape, the choice of material for the reader head isimportant to prevent stiction and heat generation in the event the tapemakes contact with the tape head, minimizing the likelihood of damage tothe tape/data.

The sensor array may comprise several hundred to over 20,000 sensors.The sensors may be arranged in a 3 cm×3 cm area. This area accommodatesall widths of tapes created to date. The sensors used may vary or beinterchangeable, and may be tunnel magnetoresistive elements, giantmagnetoresistive elements, anisotiopic magnetoresistive elements,semiconductor magnetoresistive elements, Hall elements, or any of manyother types of elements suitable to the field strength of the magneticmaterial on the tape.

The sensor array may be in communication with a processing means and adisplay means. The processing means may receive the signals from thesensor array and display them on the display means in the form of a heatmap. The heat map comprising an array of values corresponding to thestrength of the magnetic fields measured by each sensor such that eachpeak in the value of the magnetic fields represent bits of data. Thepeaks may comprise positive and negative values such that for example, apositive value corresponds with a 1 and a negative value correspondswith a 0. This is in contrast to prior art tape readers which provide abinary output only. The heat map may visually represent the magneticfields on the tape. This visual representation allows an operator toreadily identify any parts of the tape which are damaged and notreadable. The operator may be a user or may alternatively be anartificial intelligence or machine learning algorithm which can identifyparts of the tape which are unreadable and may additionally reconstructthe data by predicting the values of the missing data. This may includethe identification of the format in which the data is saved and thenpredicting the missing values based upon the surrounding values usinghistorical data. Tape data is generally written in blocks and files,where files are made up of one or more blocks. The artificialintelligence and machine learning algorithms may be trained to read allfile formats created by any software capable of writing to tapesincluding but not limited to formats such as BRU, SEGY, SEGD, andindustry standard backup formats such as TAR and LTFS.

The processing means comprises a receiving portion for receiving thedigital output from the reader head. The heat map represents magneticfields that can identify if the field is either positive, negative, ornull. These fields can be converted to voltages, and then into binarydata. The heat map may also provide a visual representation from whichdamaged sections of the tape can be readily identified.

The heat map also represents error detection where the sensor arraycomprises multiple lines of sensors. The heat map may comprise a valueobtained by each sensor. Missing data may be represented by unexpectedvalues being present where a bit is expected. For example, the valuesbeing consistent with a null value rather than a positive or negativevalue, or alternatively a weak positive or negative value without a peakstrong enough to denote a dear bit value. In alternate embodiments, theheat map may be comprised of fewer values than sensors if multiplesensors are used to resolve the values of the heat map such as byaveraging multiple adjacent values. In an embodiment, four sensors maybe averaged into each value represented on the heat map allowing forerror detection and correction at the sensor level prior to analyzingthe heat map. In some embodiments, the heat map may represent data overtime, such as when multiple parallel lines of sensors acquire the samebits of data over time, and the heat map used to confirm the value ofeach bit, such as by assuming the most common indicated bit value iscorrect, such as if of six values for one bit, four are positive and twoare negative, the correct value is assumed to be positive. In addition,by using the endianness of the byte structure, the machine learningalgorithms can predict the upper and lower limits of a byte value sothat a range of what the byte should equal can be predicted.

The tape reader may comprise a support adjacent the reader head, thesupport is adapted to support the tape as the tape passes the readerhead. The support may be spaced from the reader head such that the tapedoes not engage the reader head. The support may maintain the tape at aconsistent distance from the reader head and may additionally keep thetape flat, and at a consistent tension. The support may alternatively beadjustable, moving the tape closer or further to the reader head, whichmay be configured or determined dynamically based upon whether the datais being consistently read or if read errors are detected. The supportmay be adapted to engage the non-data side of the tape as the tapepasses the reader head. The support may be in the form of a motor drivencapstan that drives the tape through the tape path, or a capstan thatacts as a spindle which rotates with the tape passing thereover. As thesupport is in contact with the more robust side of the tape and does notcontact the data side, the likelihood of damage to the tape/data isminimized.

In various embodiments the capstan may be coated with a low frictionmaterial, and/or may be cooled.

The tape reader may comprise a drive mechanism to drive the tape pastthe reader head in forward and reverse directions. The drive mechanismmay have multiple configurations to handle the various tape types todrive the tape through the tape reader. For example, the drive mechanismmay be configured to drive and read data from tapes of formats includingLinear Tape-Open (LTO), Digital Linear Tape (DLT), Digital Audio Tape(DAT), Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT), Quarter Inch Cartridge (QIC),open reel 7,9 and 21 track tapes, 4 mm and 8 mm Exabytes, etc.

The tape reader may be adapted to read tapes stored in a range ofhousings. The tape reader may be adapted to read data from tapes storedon a reel (open reel) or a cassette (closed reel).

The tape reader may also comprise an image sensor for recording thereading of the tape. The image sensor may be synchronized with the tapereader. The image sensor allows an operator to visually inspect the tapein those cases where the heat map identifies a damaged section of tape.The operator may be a user or an automated system such as a machinelearning algorithm. The image sensor may be an optical sensor or camerato capture visible light data or may alternatively capture data fromother electromagnetic wavelengths such as the infrared spectrum. In someembodiments, multiple image sensors may be utilized in parallel such asthose which can detect visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, etc. Imagesensors may additionally be used simultaneously or in parallel withmagnetic read sensors to read the tape using multiple methods which maybe cross referenced to identify damaged tape and otherwise validate thedata read from the tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary tape passing through a tapereader.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary tape passing over a sensor array.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of data on an exemplary tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a tape reader 100 which iscapable of reading data from a variety of different formatted tapes 110.The tape reader 100 is adapted to retrieve/read the data without makingcontact with the tape 110.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a tape reader 100 for reading data from amagnetic tape 110. In this embodiment, the tape 110 has nine tracks 204,as best represented in FIG. 2 . However, a tape with more or less trackscould also be read by the tape reader 100. For example, the tape reader100 could read tapes with 7, 14, 21, or more tracks in addition to 9track tapes.

The tape reader 100 provides a reader head 210 comprising a sensor array212. The sensor array 212 incorporates a plurality of sensors whereinthe sensors detect data independent of the track the data is stored. Thesensors may comprise at least magnetic sensors capable of detecting andquantifying the strength of a magnetic field at the sensor, or an imagesensor such as may be used in a camera to acquire an image or datacomprising an array of pixels. The sensors used may vary or beinterchangeable, and may be tunnel magnetoresistive elements, giantmagnetoresistive elements, anisotropic magnetoresistive element,semiconductor magnetoresistive element, or Hall elements or other types.

As represented in FIG. 2 , the plurality of sensors are arranged inthree sub-sets of sensors wherein in each subset the sensors arearranged to be in a line 206. In effect this provides a means to readthe data three times allowing for the accuracy of the read data to bechecked. The sensors may be arranged in a plurality of sub-sets or maycomprise a continuous array. For example, the sensors may comprise atleast one sub-set of sensors which may be arranged linearly or in one ormore patterns which may further be arranged parallel to the adjacentsub-sets. The sensors may alternatively be arranged in a pattern such asa checkerboard. A checkerboard pattern may be used to interpose a secondsensor type within an array of a first sensor type. A sensor array mayalternatively be a continuous array of sensors, such as in an imagingsensor.

The tape reader 100 comprises a drive mechanism 116 to drive the tape110 past the reader head 112 in forward and reverse directions which mayenable the reading of data in either the forward or reverse directions.The drive mechanism 110 incorporates a support 118 adjacent the readerhead 112 which supports the tape as the tape passes the reader head.

The support 118 is in the form of a motor driven capstan 120 that drivesthe tape through a tape path and is spaced from the reader head 112 suchthat the tape does not engage the reader head 112. In some embodiments,the support 118 may be movable and may receive inputs from the readerhead 112 to either move the tape 110 closer to the reader head 112, oralternatively move the reader head 112 to ensure consistent reading ofdata from the tape 110. A sensor may be included to detect the distanceor contact of the tape 110 and the reader head 112 and adjust thedistance to prevent prolonged contact.

The drive mechanism 116 also comprises take-up and release spools 102,122, and tape path spindles 104.

In operation the tape 110, stored on reel release spool 102 is placed inthe tape reader 100. The tape extends from the reel release spool 102 toa take-up spool 122, to be fed thereon. Between the reel release spoolsthe tape passes over spindles 104 and the capstan 120. As the tapepasses over the capstan 120 on one side, the data side 106 of the tape110 passes the reader head 112 such that the tracks on the tape 110 canbe read by the sensor array 114.

Once the data has been read and processed by a processing means it ispresented in a heat map. The heat map represents magnetic fields thatcan identify if the field is either positive, negative, or null. Thesefields can be converted to voltages, and then into binary data. Forexample, a positive value may ultimately correspond to a binary 1, anegative value may correspond to a binary 0, and null or absent fieldvalues may represent no data or missing data. Missing data may beidentified by one or more null values surrounded by positive and/ornegative values, whereas no data, such as where no data has been savedto the tape, may be indicted by a region with only null values and nopositive or negative values.

The reading of a tape 110 on the tape reader 100 does not require adetermination of the format to create the output. For example,traditional drives must identify the type of data to be read and a readerror may occur if the data does not match the values expected for theindicated format. Tape reader 100 reads the data via interpolation ofmagnetic fields over an area instead of directly reading individualbits, therefore not requiring a format to read and outputs the storeddata. The sensors on the sensor array 114 are used either singularly orin groups to read the bits recorded on the tape 110 where any number ofsensors can be used to read a single bit, or multiple bits inconjunction. The tape reader 110 also deploys several other designimplementations that reduce the risk of damage to tape media andcaptures additional data regarding the physical condition of the media.For example, tension and distance or contact sensors may be employed toensure consistent tension is maintained to prevent breakages and thatthe tape 110 is maintained at a distance adequate to read the datawithout contacting the reader head 112. Sensors may further monitor thealignment of the tape 110 and/or guides used to ensure the tape does notslip, fray or tear.

Prior art tape readers work on the basis of reading a track 302,checking its parity, and accepting the data as correct or not. Forexample, if one track 302 of a nine-track tape is not readable, then alldata on the rest of the tracks 302 at that point are designated as a“hard error” and no data is created for that whole sample. Traditionaldrives require that all bits within a byte of stored data be readable,therefore a missing or corrupted bit result in unresolved data andgenerates a read error. Tape reader 100 reads the magnetic fields, notthe bits directly, therefore providing additional data and processingsteps allowing for the missing data to potentially be reconstructedbased upon the surrounding data instead of simply generating a readerror. This additionally facilitates recovery by digitizing theretrievable data from the tape 110 which otherwise would requirecumbersome and largely manual data recovery methods. In certainembodiments, the heat map represents the magnetic signal of all tracks302 that are present, even if one is missing. While one track 302 may bedamaged the present tape reader 100 may at least read the other eighttracks 302, whereas the prior art would not provide any information andwould report an error. The heat map may visually identify which track302 is missing. Visual identification may comprise a user manuallyreviewing the heat map or alternatively an artificial intelligence ormachine learning algorithm identifying missing data based upon the heatmap.

FIG. 3 shows a nine-track tape where data has been damaged 304 andcannot be read, as indicated by the solid squares. Where one of thesolid squares is not readable in the first column, then in prior arttape readers, the entire column across all tracks 304 is ignored. Thisis not the case in tape reader 100, which would be able to read at leastall data which is not damaged or obscured. Tape reader 100 would be ableto detect residual magnetic fields from damaged tape and therefore coulddetermine the value of a missing bit which would otherwise beunreadable. Additionally, machine learning may be used to predict thevalue of a missing bit based upon the data stored in the surroundingbits, including residual magnetic fields.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed.Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explainthe principles of the technology, its practical application, and toenable others skilled in the art to utilize the technology in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of thetechnology be defined by the claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape reader system, the system comprising: areader head comprising a sensor array that includes a plurality ofsensors, wherein the sensors in the sensor array are configured toprovide a continuous sensor region that detects data on a tape that ispassed across the continuous sensor region of the reader head.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein sensors in the sensor array detect the datawithin the continuous sensor region without requiring alignment to anyspecific one of the sensors.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tapeincludes a plurality of tracks, and wherein sensors in the sensor arrayare configured to detect the data independent of which of the trackswith which the data is associated.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein thetape include a damaged portion, and wherein the sensors in the sensorarray are further configured to sense residual magnetic field associatedwith the damaged portion.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising aprocessor that executes instructions to generate a heat map thatvisually represents one or more magnetic fields associated with thetape.
 6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a processor thatexecutes instructions to use machine learning to predict one or morevalues associated with the damaged portion based on one or more residualmagnetic fields or print-through.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theprediction is further based on one or more portions of the tape thatsurround the damaged portion.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein thesensors in the sensor array are arranged at multiple depths, wherein thesensors at different depths read the data from a same track of the tape.9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support that supports thetape during passage across the continuous sensor region of the readerhead without contacting the reader head.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the support is adjustable to move the tape closer to or fartherfrom the reader head.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the support isconfigured to contact only a non-data side of the tape during passageacross the continuous sensor region of the reader head.
 12. The systemof claim 9, wherein the support comprises a motor-driven capstan spindlethat rotates the tape, wherein the capstan spindle is coated with alow-friction or cooling material.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein thesensors in the sensor array are arranged perpendicularly to the passageof the tape.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors in thesensor array are arranged in multiple lines that form a regular pattern.15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor that executesinstructions to validate the data by comparing different reads from thesensors in the sensor array.
 16. A reader head device, the devicecomprising: a sensor array that includes a plurality of sensors, whereinthe sensors in the sensor array are arranged to provide a continuoussensor region that detects data on a tape that is passed across thereader head.
 17. A sensor array device, the device comprising: aplurality of sensors, wherein the sensors are arranged to provide acontinuous sensor region that detects data on a tape that is passedacross the reader head.